Brad and Eric Smith are getting tenders from the Jets.
The Smiths will join WR Braylon Edwards, RB Leon Washington and QB Kellen Clemens as players the Jets plan to tender. Both Brad and Eric are entering their fourth year in the NFL and will become restricted free agents with no collective bargaining agreement in place.
Eric started four games last year, two in place of benched Kerry Rhodes, who may be traded this offseason.
Brad played a key part in the Jets’ playoff-clinching win over the Bengals in the season finale, scoring two touchdowns while quarterbacking the team’s Wildcat formation. He also threw a 45-yard completion to WR Jerricho Cotchery that set up the Jets’ second touchdown in the AFC Championship loss to the Colts.
Tendering Clemens? Really? At the very least, another team would have to give up a second round pick to sign him. Nobody's going to do that. Maybe the coaching staff thinks it can get something out of him because he'll definitely be back with a tender. I'm not so sure.
Haven't heard which tender these guys are getting. The lowest tender, which is for the round the player was drafted in, seems likely. Eric went in the third round. Brad was in the fourth round. If these are what the Jets will offer, they would get a Draft pick in these rounds if another team signs them and the Jets match. Again, there is no confirmation these are the tenders, only a guess. I doubt either would get a first round tender, but a second round tender is possible.
I like the Brad move. He's a great special teamer and adds an extra dimension on offense. He's also an excellent decoy. Teams always have to account for him.
Eric found a role in subpackages this year, and Rex had good things to say about him. I'm not sure he's fast or athletic enough to start. He does bring value. Given the restrictions, I wouldn't have minded to see the Jets not tender him, let another team sign him, and open up a spot to sign an unrestricted free agent. Eric is a good player so you can't go too crazy even if you were thinking like me, though.